Turkey plans to increase coal powered electricity production

ISTANBUL

The Turkish government plans to double its electricity production with coal power in 2018, which will include a policy that will increase the country’s coal production.

Turkey produced 32 billion kwH of electricity with coal power plants in 2013 and plans to increase this amount to 57 billion kwh in 2018, as part of its new economy plans.

Turkey will introduce new tenders for the construction of coal power plants in Afşin, Elbistan, Konya, Karapınar and Ergene, areas which are rich with coal reserves.

Lignite basins with low capacities will be transferred to the industrial zones without demanding any licensing fees.

The General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration [MTA] will also search for coal abroad. The state will also increase the amount of coal it buys from companies in order to draw more companies to the tenders for the planned coal power plants.